3.5
Quality4.4
Difficulty43%
Would Retake279
Reviews43%
Would Retake
279
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
123
4
44
3
35
2
23
1
54
What Students Say
“He talks extremely fast and is almost impossible to keep up with in lect”
MATH31 - 2.0 rating“The only things graded are tests and quizzes”
MATH012 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
33%
Textbook Required
59%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
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Rating Trend
Declining
-0.78 avg changeRatings by Course
MATHTRIG
5.0
(1)MATH16A
5.0
(2)CALC01
5.0
(2)MATH
5.0
(3)MATH3133
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
MATHTRIG
5.0
MATH3133
5.0
ALLMATH
5.0
MATH830
5.0
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5.0
Reviews (279)
Amazing guy. Lectures are wonderful and he is quite entertaining! Can explain even the most difficult of concepts. However, VERY difficult tester! You have to really know your stuff!
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I'm currently in math 31 at another school and I keep thinking back at how effective Balaguy was at teaching and wishing that I would end up with a teacher like him again. He's hard but he explains everything perfectly. The most effective math teacher I'v
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One of the best professors I have ever had. Great explanations and analagies. Seems to be great at adapting to all students and diverse learning styles. He is a real gem for a junior college!
By far the best math teacher I have ever or will-ever have at explaining and understanding the coursework. He does however, like to challenge his students on his tests which are some of the hardest tests I have ever taken.
he is very hyper
Great teacher, made math fun even to someone that does not care for it. He will help with anything you need help on
I am currently taking his class and so far he is a wonderful teacher. He is very excited about teaching and it can easily be seen. His knowledge of mathematics is extensive and it allows him to explain things very well.
Will help you with any question you have, but expects a lot out of you.
Astounding teaching. Took him when attending Sierra, far better than anyone I've seen here at my new University. But his tests are incredibly hard, be prepared to MEMORIZE tables of integrals. We once had a quiz no one in the class passed. Only once I know of did he give a take home exam portion.
He makes an otherwise boring class enjoyable with his enthusiasm and knowledge.
I never had Mr. Balaguy but spent MANY hours in J7. He was always willing to help even though I was not in his class. He would anwser my questions with questions that help me "understand" rather than just get the answer.
Best teach I’ve ever had. If you just want to take a math class to pass and fill your general edit, never take Professor Balaguy. But if you want to learn and understand the material he is the best you can get. His classes are very hard though.
Best Teacher to Learn Real Math.
Hands down the greatest teacher i have ever had.
One of the most intelligent math teachers I have ever encountered in my life. There isn't a math question, at least at our level of sophistication, that he does not know, period. Very approachable and a really cool guy. Be prepared to study though!!! No free rides here.
Balaguy's the best teacher that I have had and I'm sure I'll ever have. Knows every answer to every question and explains in more ways than one. Taking his class has even led me to become a math major because he shined a whole new light on math.
incredibly hard to follow, but he is a very nice guy
Balaguy subsituted for my professor once, from the one class session I had with him I was able to understand more about Math 31 than I ever had before. He is an excellent teacher, very animated, and EXTREMELY helpful!!
Balaguy is the most knowledgable person of his field that I know of. He is very committed to helping you understand the principles behind the questions and is a great guy. However, his classes are NOT easy. He expects you to know everything you learned in any previous math classes you have taken. At the end of his class, you WILL know the material.
Very nice guy , but classes can be hard to follow if you are not well prepared, goes really really fast. Exams are very very hard.
A Great Teacher with gr8 passion. Explains everything very clearly. He likes if you ask questions, and he would be glad to help you with his incredible knowladge. Tests are not hard, but he expects students to know everything if they don't ask question :) Class is full of fun.
Easily the best math teacher I've ever had, and easily among one of my favorite professors ever. His tests will be thorough and extensive, but he will have clearly explained all the material presented. He is very entertaining, but never distracts from the material (aside from the occasional anecdote).
Such an awesome teacher and person! Will help you out any way he can, loves what he does and knows his stuff. Makes math interesting and wants everyone to succeed!
Take it from someone who absolutely hates math, Balaguy is the best teacher you could possibly ask for. He actually makes class fun to go to because he's so energetic about math, and always makes sure that the whole class understands. He also explains th
good teacher, but he's CrAzY!
Hes really wacky and seems like a nice guy but i did terrible in his class. i dunno whose to blame for that cuz i did much better with other teachers.
HE IS A WONDERFUL GUY AND A WONDERFUL TEACHER. i love his class and i ACTUALLY learn something and understand it. if u really want to learn math and always remember it for the rest of ur life take Balaguys class becuase he makes it fun and interesting to learn
Good overall teacher. Only tests and quizes. His quizes seem to be harder than the tests. Just stay on top of everyhing. Dont fall behind and dont try to catch up to everthing the day before tests.
He is a nice and quirky guy that can make you laugh but he runs a little fast when it comes to the material. If your ready for a fast pace class then he is the teacher for you but unfortunately I was not.
Mr.Balaguy is a nice guy. He does know his material and is very smart, but I didn't like his teaching style. He does teach a little fast in my opinion.
Calculus II beyond was difficult, I passed with a B. Dan is flamboyant, fast paced and silly. His teaching style didn't always work. I wouldn't recommend him but there were only two available C Myers or Dan. However, I hear that K. Lucero is an awesome easy teacher, Dan wouldnt be my first choice but in my case he was my last resort. He is NOT HOT!
he is a good teacher, very helpful if asked yo do any problem on the board but he is alittle confusing.
A butt-load of work, there's no question. Balaguy makes sure when you leave the room that you have the tools you need to get your HW done. He forces you to think outside the box a lot, which can make it difficult. He his very clear in his descriptions, just don't let him talk at a 1000 words a minute!!
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His lectures are okay but pulls questions out of his azz when it comes to exams.
I love his teaching approach but his exams hard and he tends to cover a lot of material in too little time. Always willing to help outside of class though.
Mr. Balaguy is probably the best math teacher at Sierra. Although his tests are insanely difficult, his exceptional teaching and extreme helpfulness makes them possible, if you're so inclined to take his class seriously. If you have any love for math whatsoever, he'll bring it to light! At higher levels, homework is not required, just recommended.
Way too much work
yuck!
Uses a diferent language and does not tell you what he means. You need a balaguy nerd dictionary to keep up with him. He does not teach what is on the tests. He prepares you to teach yourselves what you need to know.
Mr. Balaguy is a great teacher. Everyone with negative complaints should stop being such babies, because his style of teaching is what "real" college is like. He says "jeepers" quite often which is entertaining, and he has piercing in his left ear: this makes him somewhat mysterious.
He's probably one of the hardest instructors you will ever have but he's THE BEST and if you are ABLE to pass his class then you'll most likely know more about the subject than most. His exams don't LOOK like HW questions cuz u have to TIE CONCEPTS in together & that's why they're HARD. In any case he's awesome & everyone should stop whining!!
If you have a chance, take a class with him early in your math series (trig, precalc, or calc 1). His teaching style is excruciatingly hard but very effective, so if you are willing to give your 110% in one of his classes it will really pay off in the future.
This guy is so good at teaching! He actually cares whether you're getting it or not. Algebra in high school did not click for me, so 20 years later, I was pretty nervous about taking it in college. Not to worry! If you don't get it the first time, he will show you from different angles until you do. He could give some teachers lessons!
Indeed, he is a very good professor.
This guy talks to fast you can't keep up with him. Expects you to know everything like the back of your hand. Extremely hard exams, not representational of the knowledge you really need to know. Talks above the class most of the time and only the people who have taken the class before really get it. No notes, no graphing calc allowed on exams.
I had Balaguy as a sub for Trig, and about 20 minutes into the class I just stopped paying attention. He talks too fast and jumps around a lot, plus I have to admit it was hard to focus with his humourous flamboyance distracting me. It was just very different and the constant use of the word "jeepers" made me giggle more than learn.
BEST MATH TEACHER... no other teacher in my life has explained and been so passionate about what they teach. Very Very Very great teaching methods that stick in you and make sense... Problem is that the EXAMS ARE IMPOSSIBLE! I spent hours studying days before the test and only manage to get a low B on the tests and i'm a 4.0 student
he is good
If you just want to get by, don't take Mr. Balaguy. But if you want to understand and build a solid foundation in math, he's Sierra's best. Drop rates are high and don't expect an A, but he knows his stuff and can explain it like no other. His superb teaching for Math 30 gave me an advantage in 31, 32 and 33. Excellent teacher, just very difficult!
If you care about your gpa and have another option in professors I would advise not to take Dan's class!
Dan is a very interesting guy. He was my first ever college professor (I'm a sop****re) - I took him Fall 2006. I've taken 10 classes since Fall 2006 and I've gotten nine A's and one C. Balaguy was the one C. I'm a 4.0 student - i studied hard, he seemed to be a good teacher, but the exams were just impossible for me.
Mr. Balaguy is the best professor I have ever had without a doubt. For all you whiners, I took Calc II and the six unit math class from him, and got B+'s both times without too much studying- that's how good of a teacher he is. Easily the most passionate and dedicated teacher i know. Yes, drop rate is high, but that is for those who can't hang.
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Balaguy is difficult, make no mistake. In the class I took, everyone but two or three people failed most every test to the point that everyone had to retake them. Besides his difficulty, Dan is so passionate about what he teaches that I couldn't help but feel excitement at attending class. A really wonderful teacher who makes class fun.
This guy is a fantastic teacher. He doesn't just show you the techniques, he shows you why they work. He is intensely passionate about his subject. His tests aren't bad as long as you've been keeping up in the homework and have been paying close attention in class. One of the best math instructors at Sierra, if not the best.
Awesome teacher. hands down the best math teacher i've ever had. You must go everyday though, or you will fall behind.
difficult subject but I learned a lot. great teacher but really really difficult exams.
Dan is INCREDIBLY hard. However, he is easily the best and most knowledgeable Math professor at Sierra. His tests require that you can piece together parts of different things that were taught in order to complete a problem that you've never seen before. Everything is relevant to what is taught, though. Overall, this guy is excellent.
Awful class!!!! I never understood anything he taught, that would be because he NEVER taught us anything!!! He would give us pages and let us go at them.. never take this subject with him!!!!
This teacher is excellent. I did not score high in the class, but it is because he continually challenges his students with all of the information that he has provided them with. Prof. Balaguy integrates all of the material learned though out the class together, resulting in a better understand of how all of the mathematics works together.
This teacher was very difficult. I do not recommend him to anyone. He speaks a language that is too hard to understand. His tests are extremely hard. He doesn't even give you a review guide. He started using a new book and doesn't even go by it. That made it so hard to understand. He is unorganized.
Decent at teaching but his tests are impossible! they do not reflect what he teaches in class and hes extremely hard to follow! hard to get in contact with, almost never replies to emails.
Balaguy was very hard to understand. His vocabulary was too complex, and i found myself trying to figure out what he was saying rather than listening. He talks to fast, and his tests don't reflect the quizes, homework, or lectures. I would only suggest you take this class if you are repeating or would love to spend a lot of time in the lab.
AWSOME! really tries to help you...IF YOU ASK QUESTIONS! he does talk really fast but it keeps you paying attention. if he skips too many steps just stop him and have him go back. he loves what he does and i would highly recomend him for UPPER DIVISION. i have heard he can be hard to understand in lower division classes. great sense of humor too
Mr. Balaguy is the BEST math instructor at Sierra! He is VERY knowledgeable in mathematics and uses a veriety of ways to help students understand. He does use math terminology/vocab but in math it is crucial as a student to familiarize ur self w/those terms. For myself I have noticed the more familar I am with the math terms the better I do.
DO NOT TAKE MATH 30 WITH BALAGUY. One of the worst teachers I have ever had. The class is extremely difficult. His tests are unfairly difficult. His handwriting is atrocious and you can't understand what he is saying during lecture. Take Calculus with any other teacher besides Balaguy. His tests and his class are much more difficult than the others
Nice guy, but not recommended as a teacher. Lectures are quite incomprehensible, nothing he says makes sense..he makes things MUCH harder than they are/need to be. Very unorganized, never posts homework..in general, makes it very hard to succeed(unless you're already a genius, which he assumes you are). Fine mathmatician but horrible professor.
Awesome teacher, very informative and engaging. Grading is easy if you do the work. Homework wasn't graded or collected, but I'm not sure if that's true in every class. Great teacher, I definitely recommend him.
I had Balaguy for Math 30, and I just transferred into his Math 31 from another professor (because I liked him so much the first time). He's one of the nicest, most helpful professors I've ever had, and I've had a lot of them. People need to stop complaining and realize he's as good as they get. Don't buy into the hype about it being hard, it's not
Very knowledgeable - probably one of the best at Sierra in this regard. His tests/quizzes are difficult, but I don't agree that they don't reflect the lecture/homework. His grading is tough but fair. Biggest complaint is that I find his lectures and handwriting basically incomprehensible. However, he goes out of his way to help you IF YOU ASK.
He is certainly a unique professor. I love his lectures, they are interesting and understandable but his exams are very difficult and your grade is based solely on exams and quizzes so if you're not a good test taker, I would not recommend this class. It seems very few people pass this class with an A. But he's a great guy or should I say (bala)guy
One of the best professors at Sierra. Test are hard, but relevant. He is beyond helpful. My only complaint is that he focuses way too much on the algebra. I had a tutor (mathematical engineer) who said the alegbra was beyond unncessary. I feel like he has an agenda (he wants college algebra to be a prereq) and uses students to prove his point.
i love his lectures. it was always interesting and not boring. the homework is easy. the quizzes are easy. but for some reason, his tests are hard. and they do not relate to what you did on homework. ugh. so irritating. but as a teacher... he was completely AWESOME
Professor Balaguy is by far my best math professor I've had in my life. He is very intelligent and knows how to teach the course he is teaching. NOT EASY! This course was very difficult. If you are looking for an easy, good grade, pick a different professor. If you are looking to learn the most you can, take DE with him. Highly recommended.
Balaguy has clear strengths and weaknesses. His lectures and examples are very good, he prepares most of it as he goes along but it works very well, little confusion in understanding. However, at least this semester he was extremely busy, and more forgetful than other teachers. In terms of teaching he was on top of it but not administratively.
This is the third semester I've had Prof. Balaguy. He is the best math teacher I've had in my life. It's true that his classes are probably the hardest math classes at Sierra, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Unreliable outside of class, but a fantastic teacher and a genuinely nice person. "Jeepers!"
If you want math to comsume all your time take math from sierra college lol!!! thats what i found out from being a student @ the math department there for 4yrs. Hes a nice guy but i would never take him again due to the lack of his attendence to office hours, grading ect. BE aware
Balaguy was the BEST math prof i ever had and simultaneously the HARDEST. I now attend Sac State and I've gotta say that even if you take him and not pass you will have learned SO MUCH MORE than alot of the other transfers I see here. Sierra prepares students (and i'm comparing MY experiences to my UC/CSU frenz)exceptionally well.again,I LOVED DAN!
Best math teacher I have ever had. Before taking his class I wasn't too interested in math. He got me to actually ENJOY it. He is VERY energetic and can explain every last bit of a question, although he does use some sophisticated vocabulary at times. He is very approachable. I am adjusting my schedule to be sure I take his classes in the future.
Balaguy is a super hard teacher! Everyone thinks he's so great which I don't get. He talks way too fast and uses his crazy vocabulary to explain something that could've been said with 50 less words. He hardly ever goes out of the book and even if you study and do all the homework, the tests are clearly way harder than the homework and impossible!
I've read all comments before taking his class, and you guys scared me a lot. Even though English is not my first language I see how GREAT Dan is in math. He is not trying to teach you, he just playing with math because, as I think, he is GURU in math. IF YOU REALLY WANNA enjoy your math class, hardly working and studying, choose DAN!!!
Awesome professor at sierra college! He is funny and uses words like jeepers to explain something lol. His teaching is the best, and i finished math 12 with an A. Need i say more?
Best math teacher I've ever had. If you can't understand concepts from him, you don't belong in college.
One of the best math teachers at Sierra. He is challenging, but you will finish the class knowing your stuff. A "C" in Balaguy's class bears more credence than an "A" in some other's.
He's so smart that at times it's intimidating, but he's such a nice guy it doesn't even matter. Great teacher.
His tests are difficult but he prepares you for them. He is clear but sometimes too fast. If you ask him to slow down, he will. He loves math and brings energy to class with him.(You will never be bored) He is one of the best math teachers I have ever had. I would recommend him to anyone who wants to learn math.
good math prof, but usually goes too fast. he allows no note pages on exams, and the exams are hard. He doesn't do a good job reviewing the material before exams. HW is not graded, and the exams are almost the whole grade, which when combined with them being hard, makes for a hard class with already hard material. book rarely used outside of HW.
Tough class, great teacher. He tells you that this is the hardest class you will take. Fast-paced, covers a ton of material. You will need the Math Lab to pass. No notes. Grading: No graded HW (but do it). ~15 quizzes (only the top ten count), 4 exams. The lowest exam or total quiz score is dropped. Final is worth 1.5 exams, and can not be dropped.
Balaguy is a great teacher but his tests are extremely HARD. Our class average every test was always in the 60s. I did my homework and the practice exams but I still couldn't pass his tests. I would come in thinking I would get a good grade on the test and then have a nervous breakdown upon seeing the problems. Hard teacher, hard class.
Very excellent as per his knowledge. Speaks too fast. Helps you to truly understand the concepts. Tests INSANELY DIFFICULT. Kind with partial /extra credit. You'll need them both. A true TEACHER. Needs to grade on a curve, reduce difficulty of tests, or work with an ONLINE PROGRAM. Should probably make video of lectures avail. and sho HOW HW solut.
Learned SO MUCH. More than I thought existed on the subject. SO HARD tests. Kind w/extra/partial cred. Speaks too fast; if slower, I'd have understood more. Very knowledgeable. Best math TEACHER I've ever had, minus tests, spd. Needs2 make vids of lectures/tutorials of how to solv probs available. Could be much clearer about what he wants on tests.
This guy is really a good teacher. Even his class is really hard, but he will give you a lot of chance to improve your grade. for example, we have almost 20 quiz in this semester, but he only count your top ten grades. And we have 4 exams, he will drop your lowest one. And his class is really helpful.
I don't recommend taking this professor. He talks to fast and goes on with the history of who invented what formula. His exams are the worst and brags so much of how he's a "Mathmatician"
Teacher is extremely brilliant, he knows what he is talking about. The drawback, his students don't. He is a very tough teacher and you have to be on your game. If you want to learn a lot, hes the best teacher for you. If you want an easy A, considering dropping him.
He is very smart. He seems to enjoy math,he expects everyone to like math. He is not helpful at all. You need to already know what he is teaching as he expects to just review. He seems short tempered and impatient. Do not take him if you trying to learn math. If you know your stuff and just need the credit,he doesn't care if you show up for class
This teacher's test are terrible! His quizzes aren't so bad, but the test's are impossible! He isn't the hardest math teacher at Sierra, but pretty close! He's extremely kind, and I liked him as a person, but not for his teaching! It would be one thing if his lecture and homework difficulty matched up with the tests, so there was no way to prepare!
He is a very knowledgeable proffessor and has true passion for math. He is so smart he is almost incapapable of dumbing it down for those like me who struggle. He doen's teach to the book, complains daily about the book/author and how its H.S. level. He makes his own tests and quizes which don't reflect the book. Unless your great in math, Don't!
For those of you debating taking M24 at Sac state or M42 at Sierra College, TAKE MATH 24 AT SAC STATE! Multiple choice exams in 24 plus the allowance of graphing calcs on exams! Not to mention notes available online AND only about a qtr. of the info in M42 is actually in M24! Much easier at Sac State than SC! DONT WASTE TIME taking M42 at Sierra!
Very VERY frustrating. Extremely fast talker and he knows way too much to get on our level and teach us. Expects you to know everything when you're really just there to learn :( Ended up dropping the class because even AFTER 5 hours of continuous study sessions i got low scores. By the end of the semester, a class of 35-40 dropped to 12 students!
Well he's a nice guy and all but we don't pay that much to go hang out with a nice guy for a few hours. He has no ability to teach math! My brother couldn't understand him in Calc either. Terrible teacher. Pick ANYONE else.
This teacher is extremely nice! He is willing to go over problems again and explain them again if you miss something. He seemed genuine and sincerely wanted the students to understand. However, this is not an easy class. He talks really fast and is really smart. He gives difficult problems for tests and quizzes which are no notes, no graphing calc.
Like other reviews noted, he talks fast! but he's also willing to go over problems that you didn't understand, and if you do all the assigned homework, you should not have too much trouble with the exams. over all, a really nice guy and a great teacher, he spends most of his office hours in the math center helping students.
He is extremely brilliant, super hilarious and just an all around great guy. However, I must say this is a difficult class. He definitely challenges his students by testing you on your understanding of calculus concepts, rather than your ability to regurgitate information from a textbook. Great teacher, wonderful person, but just be prepared.
This teacher is one of a kind. If you are looking for an easy A, this is not your class. .His exams are thinker questions but he does teach extremely well. The most approachable teacher and the most helpful teach I have ever encountered. He went out of his way, on his day off, to meet a group of us to help prepare for the final. Take Him!
The most brilliant teacher I've ever met. If you just aim for an easy A, don't take his class. But if you're interested in Math, you'll learn a lot from him.
Great teacher! We are always laughing and joking around but still get the work done. I would suggest that you take this class. I love it and look forward to coming to class everyday. Hes awesome and helps anyone who needs it! Yesterday we spent the entire day going over the homework from the night before!
He is very difficult. He speaks way to fast and his tests have nothing to do with what he discusses in class! Balaguy never responds to e-mails. I would not recommend this professor if you struggle in math!!!!
He is actually a really great teacher and explains new material in great detail. He likes to have people participate and pay attention...sometimes he'll make mistakes on purpose just to see if anyone will speak up about it! Of course there are times when it's not on purpose but meh it happens. Really smart guy though. Study your butt off for tests!
Extremely good teacher. Very hard to keep up. Not an easy a class. Gives no homework
His handwriting is IMPOSSIBLE to read. He was late to class and constantly lost quizzes and assigned test questions that we never covered in the book. He also never responded to e-mails. Overall, he is a nice guy, but he just has too much on his plate.
Best math teacher I've ever had. If you need anything, just ask. He's also one of those rare mathematicians who possesses communication skills.
I loved his personality and willingness to teach but he went way to fast and seemed more into proving theroms then teaching trig!
A professor who is an absolute math genius. Very willing to help and teach, but make sure you know what he is talking about. His limitless knowledge will sometimes confuse students, so remember math terms and focus. Grades from tests/quizzes only, but tests are based off of quizzes and applying knowledge. If you know the material, you will do fine.
Professor Balaguy is the best math teacher i have ever had. He knows his stuff. He explains things a little fast because there is so much material to cover but he will slow down if you ask him to. He even showed up on Saturday morning study sessions to help us. He loves math and wants everyone to learn.
Balaguy is not an easy professor. He talks very fast and its easy to get lost in his language. On the plus side, hes very helpful and will go out of his way to make sure that everyone understands the material. The man is a math genius and his classes are never dull. Just make sure you're on top of things. Show up to class, pay attention, and study!
I don't know why everyone says his tests are so hard. They're really not. They're about as straightforward as calculus can get. No trick questions. If you're solid on your fundamentals, they're a piece of cake. He's a great teacher, but he talks maybe a little faster than necessary. He's willing to help and hear you out if you wanna argue scoring.
Terrific teacher, and a master in his field. Not recommended for people who struggle at math.
He was the best Professor I have ever had! He would meet with us at Starbucks on the weekends to help us learn. I spent 142 hours in the math center but got an A in the class, so it was worth it. He is so funny and awesome. Great guy. Class is hecka hard but fun! He rocks. Super great christian guy.
Great teacher. so helpful! very hard grading.
This is an extremely difficult professor. I've now been with him for 3 semesters, and I've loved the challenge. He does expect the students coming in to have a solid background in all math taken in the past, so that could be difficult as some test questions will blind side you. He is extremely helpful, and is a math genius.
Great guy, insanely difficult class. He will do a 20+ step problem and solve it in 3, and unless you constantly speak up about every one, he will assume you know EXACTLY what he's talking about. His tests are on topics that you learned in Algrebra 2, and he expects you know all of it.
Very intelligent. One of the smartest people I have ever met. Super friendly and very helpful. He expects a lot, like others have said, but it really comes down to the student to do their part as he clears up some of the more difficult aspects.
I won't recommend this class for somebody who are struggle at math!
Prof. Balaguy is completely awesome, fun to listen to, and makes sure all questions get answered thoroughly. It's still math, so studying outside of class is almost certainly necessary if you want to do well, but he drops the lowest exam score and only keeps the top 10 quiz scores (out of 18-ish), which is great.
the best teacher i have had in my life relyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy good
Very disappointed. No homework is graded so very little feedback is given to the student. Tests are over material not taught. The lectures are confusing and too fast. I have gotten more out of online videos than from this professor. Smart guy, but he seems to be proving how good at math he is, rather than teaching. Average class grade is failing.
AWESOME professor! He's passionate about Math and is very clear in explaining his lectures. By far the best teacher I've had at Sierra College in my years of being there.
this class is good if you are good at math. but if you struggle with math donot take this class. only math contest is Extra credit each semester no more. If you do the homework and study hard easy C or B- but if you want A+ you should be very hard worker. at the End very good teacher very kind and sweet heart. he will help you a lot to pas.
Great teacher, though I think we spent too much time talking about subjects that branch off from our class. His broken arm stickmen are classic though.
Balaguy is the worst Math teacher I've ever had. I received an A in his College Algebra class that 70% failed). He's norganized, doesn't know how to connect with students who don't understand math, he teaches lower level math classes as if everyone is a Math major and tests on higher concepts than he has taught in class and are offered in the text.
Definitely not for those weak at math. You can't be afraid to raise your hand if you don't understand something, or you will be left behind. Very informative and excellent teacher. Test questions are always much harder than problems in the text. You have to remember most of the previous math you learned, but lots of studying makes it passable.
not recommend
He might be a good professor, but he is not a GOOD person to talk. Just take another professor
With this teacher you have to work for your grade. Very helpful and is always available in the math center for extra instruction. But his tests are challenging due to having remember all your previous math classes. So it would help to review and keep within reach your previous math notes. Great professor and one of the best teachers on campus.
I have gotten A's in all previous math class, I am a hardworking student but Dan was not interested in helping his student succeed.He was constantly degrading, and belittling students because have forgotten some algebra or trig. He is a mathematician, who has unrealistic expectations and doesn't care about his students learning!
Extremely hard professor. I have never had so many difficulties with mathematics before. I had to drop the class in fear of failing the class completely. Spent on average 20 hours a week on his class alone. Not recommended for anyone who is less than a Math genius.
Balaguy is great. He teaches well and is extremely approachable. He is always smiling, and always willing to help. Some, if not most of the time, his lectures are hard to follow because he goes relatively fast, but i blame that for time constraints. and if you don't get something, he is extremely willing to slow down. Tests are very difficult
Worst proffesor
Had Professor Balaguy for two semesters in order to pass Calculus 2 (Math 31). You will LEARN a TON of math tricks in his class. He is a genius and you will have to try a lot and then some. But you are guarunteed to learn way more than any other professor for math. Study old tests and hound him for extra practice. He BENDS OVER BACKWARDS for stdnts
You will remember this professor. Is he tough? Yeah. Do you have to work for it? Yeah. Welcome to life. If you make it through this guy, it'll be one of the most rewarding experiences of your academic career. YOU HAVE TO WORK THOUGH. Ask questions, he will answer. Ask for help, he will give it to you. Bends over backwards for students.
Balaguy is the BEST math professor. YES, he is a math genius & his lectures can be difficult to follow but he doesn't mind extrapolating his ways. He will do anything and everything to help you. If you are going to take him you already know he has a rep for brutal exams so STUDY & ask for "Balaguy" problems. Pass Balaguy & you'll be set.
Balaguy is a GENIUS, so asking questions may be a little intimidating. He isn't known for being easy. You have to work hard for your grade. BUT he's willing to help you pass IF you put the effort in. He's very approachable, friendly, and bends over backwards to help a student. Don't be afraid to take him! Passing this class is possible!
The class is challenging but worth it at the end. He's one of the best & most dedicated professors at Sierra. I'm glad I was able to take a class with him.
He is really funny. He looks cheerful, but his tests are quite tough and you need to study seriously before his test. You just ned to do all his homework and look at those examples that he gave in the class because most f the questions on the test will be almost like those things. Anyway, he is a great professor. I would like to take him again.
Balaguy is a mad genius. His exams are extremely rigorous and you will fail them if you don't dedicate much of your free time to studying. I had him for three different courses and the average class scores were usually around 40-50. No curve. You'll have sleepless study binges but you'll learn a ton. He's the only thing I'll remember about Sierra.
He definitely does test hard, but for the first time i've actually learned so much more because of his test structure. His tests really make you think and derive the solutions. study his notes and make sure you clearly understand and master his examples, with that you are likely to pass his class!
Doesn't collect homework so if you're irresponsible like me don't take the class.
He will lecture and do something one way and expect a completely different method on the test. His tests are completely unfair, with an extremely low average. It's almost as if he is single-handedly trying to combat grade inflation by making his class so hard. I attend a university and have a high GPA but couldn't get a C in this summer class.
Very difficult class. Expect the unexpected on his tests. Everything that he ever mentioned in class can and most likely will be on the test in some way.
A math prodigy. Knows everything about math and will expect you to, as well. Simple criteria: If you are shaky on the prerequisite math courses (especially algebra), do not take him; you will not pass. Grades solely on tests, finals, quizzes (planned, not pop). Truly cares for students. Tests on anything in notes; not more, not tricky, but hard.
Definitely not an Easy A, but he's there to help. Theres no lecture just worksheets. His group work strategy works well since its a class intended for teachers, it forces you to talk and explain reasonings. Group quizzes and tests, except the final. No book. Nice guy
Balaguy is a very nice teacher who is basically in love with math. Willing to help but you have to ask for it. HOWEVER, his lectures are very fast paced and are hard to understand. Test problems are WAY harder than lecture examples. He expects you to know all your math prior to entering this class. Never dropped a math class before until now.
I paid to teach myself. He doesn't instruct students in any way and is not clear when he tries to help. You are put in groups, given a packet and pretty much told to figure it our. There are quizzes every wednesday, whether you actually learned the material or not. The homework is so much harder than the concepts sheets. He makes stuff up too.
He doesn't lecture, so it's up to your group to work on the problems. His problems are hard, so ask questions. He's very approachable. The math lab saved me. So take advantage of that. Hound him for extra problems. It'll help you pass. I got an A and math isn't an easy subject for me. Basically if you actually try and don't give up, you'll pass.
I will not take any other math professor at this school. He's a mad genius and one of the kindest men I've ever met. If I'm ever asked "what was Sierra college like?" somewhere down the road, my response will simply be "Balaguy." The guy is awesome. But beware. He is intensely difficult. Like, scary difficult. I don't think you quite understand...
Nice guy. Will answer questions if asked. Does not always give homework for material that will be covered on exams. Not specific on what form he would like an answer given in exams. Exam questions are much harder than the home work given , which makes homework invalid. Even if you show up every class and do all the homework you may not pass!!!
Hardest math class I have taken yet. Balaguy is genuinely a very nice guy, but as for his teaching he expects you to have a strong history in mathematics. He instructs in a fast manner, but if you ask for him to slow down/backtrack a bit he would do so willingly, otherwise he will not. Be sure to ask questions, get help as needed & stay up to date!
He is a great man, kind, and very smart. He always smiles and truly loves teaching. He treats you like an adult when it comes to attendance and homework. My only gripe is that he makes the class too difficult that it should be I spent over 25 hours a week outside of class to study and figure out his trick questions, which I think took away learnin
There's no lecture. This class is structured for students to work in groups. All worksheets, quizzes, and tests are done in groups. However, the final is done on your own. One or two math presentation is required. Worksheets, tests, and hw are super hard. But don't let that scare you. Balaguy is very kind, approachable and is ALWAYS willing to help
Balaguy is an amazing professor and mathematical genius. he can teach math to a monkey. Often told us to "wait until a couple semesters" to apply concepts. flexible to learning styles and can define any term or prove any formula. Want to know why mathematical concepts work and prove it ? take him. life changing course. I no longer despise math.
Great guy, always full of energy and really cares about the student. He can get carried away and talk like a million words per minute, but he is always super helpful. He will brighten you day with his "Jeepers" and poofy hair.
Balaguy gives awesome, clear lectures. He will take the time needed to answer every question so that everyone understands what hes saying. If you try you will learn! But his tests are brutal, do as many of his own questions as you can to be prepared for the test, Quiz questions are all test level. He has a great attitude and is a really nice guy!
Holy cow, this class was tough! His tests are sophisticated and at the university level. Be prepared to read the book, ask a lot of questions, make one on one appointments with him, visit the math center, etc... If you skip class, don't do homework, and don't study for a couple of hours a night, be prepared to fail.
Dan Balaguy gave me a gift. I am forever grateful. If you want an understanding of math, DO NOT HESITATE, take his class. If you don't care about using math in the future, do not, under any circumstances, take his class. He is incredibly helpful, completely brilliant, and brutal. You have been warned. P.S. Ask questions during class!!!
Teaches his class like everyone is mathematically gifted, skips steps and does a poor job explaining why. I heavily supplemented this class with youtube tutorials in order to pass.
Dan is an amazing teacher. He dedicates a huge amount of time to his students both in and out of class. Beware though, he gives ridiculously hard (but doable) tests and quizzes. His presentation can also be unclear at times, and his answers more theoretical than they need to be. But if you want to prepare for a serious mathematical career, take him
True Legend
Probably the best math professor I've had so far. Dan is quite inspirational and ever cheerful when it comes to helping students and tackling difficult problems. I felt that his classes were quite memorable! Class is tough as it is calc 2, and you got to work for it.
Very hard class. But, at the end of the semester you can say you learned something, because he makes you understand it.
His lectures are good... if you can actually keep up. He is an insanely fast talker and an even fast thinker. He often asks the class questions and there's usually crickets because people are 4 minutes behind trying to write/interpret what he was doing before. He's insanely smart though
he will always help if u need it
Jeepers! I took Mr. Balaguy's calculus class, expecting a somewhat easy course, but got the hardest class I've ever had. If you do not have a solid understanding of advanced algebra and pre-calculus (matrices, hyperbolic functions, properties of natural logarithms, synthetic division) you will not pass. He is very caring, but very very very hard.
The only things going into your grade are quizzes and tests. Practicing is on your own, though the level of difficulty of the book problems compared to his test problems are far easier, so it's difficult to feel adequately prepared for the tests. He is obviously very brilliant with math, and wants to make sure everyone understands, but moves fast.
Professor Balaguy is a terrible professor. He may be nice, but he is ridiculously hard. He is very smart, but a good math teacher is not one that is smart. A good math teacher makes hard and complicated topics clear and easy to understand. Balaguy talks too fast, makes his tests too hard, and is impossible to follow in lectures.
Dan is very intelligent but that doesn't make him an amazing teacher. His tests and quizzes are really challenging. If you want to pass get ready to live at the tutor center. Also find past tests and quizzes and focus on those rather than the homework. Ask him questions during no matter how dumb you may look
Professor Balaguy is a really good teacher but his tests are super hard. his homework is not mandatory he gives quizzes in class and take home but only grades top 10 and drops one test so you have a great chance of passing but you have to bring your A game
Daniel Balaguy is an absolute genius in his field. I have learned more in one semester with him than any other math professor in my educational career. Unfortunately, I was always one step behind in his class. He moves along so fast it is very easy to find yourself confused. I would always understand the concept when it was far too late.
If you're used to math professors who give steps on how to solve a problem and tips/tricks to help you, then you won't like Balaguy. Balaguy comes up with questions off the top of his head and quickly solves the problem in his head without showing half the steps on the board. He talks extremely fast and is almost impossible to keep up with in lect.
Dan is a really smart teacher who's enthusiastic about math and is extremely helpful. He doesn't collect homework, but will assign problems and go over them at the beginning of each class. Beware of his tests, as he writes his own problems that are a lot more elaborate than the problems in the book; ask him to write you some practice problems.
Don't take his class(es) if you are not planning on expanding in the area of math or just don't "get" it. His lectures are lightening speed, he skips steps, doesn't use canvas, and doesn't respond to emails. Also, his test/quiz questions are formatted differently than the textbook homework he assigns. The only things graded are tests and quizzes.
Mr. Balaguy is a mathematical genius with one flaw; he expects all of his students to be a genius like him. Dan is a great guy who truly wants you to learn and do well, but his tests are nearly impossible and the hw doesnt really match the tests at all becasue he writes his own problems.
Pay attention in lecture and take notes. Dan is extremely helpful and on campus a ton! Keeping up with him during lecture can be difficult, but it is important that you write down all of his example problems because they are EXTREMELY similar to the problems on his exams. Do the work, go to tutoring, get an A.
Amazing professor, amazing mathematician, amazing lecturer. His class is hard and you're going to have to work, but its college, get used to working hard. I learned a lot of time management and study skills from taking his class. (took 31 and 33, wish I could have taken 32 with him)
The pace at which he grades is ludicrous. The lectures have no structure or flow. The problems he puts on the quizzes are very hard and challenging and sometimes were not even related to the previous lecture. He is ok at the lower level courses but anything related to calculus is a no from me.
Jeepers! A great teacher and genius. He expects a very high level of sophistication that you cant get from the textbook alone. Ask him for previous exams and quizzes. Use these to prep for exams. He is consistent with his exams. He is very accessible outside of class and spends majority of his time helping students.
Very clear lectures. Always positive and very approachable. You can tell he enjoys teaching math. Take his class, go to lectures do the homework and youll come out a better student a more confident than when you first started. He is truley a great teacher and Im grateful to have learned calculus from him.
Professor Balaguy goes through lecturers at lightning speed, which can be a plus sometimes. He was always so upbeat everyday in class and even let one of our tests be dropped the lowest one I mean. I respect him.
If you're looking for a reason to change your Major then Dan is your guy.
Do not take with more than one other stem class. (seriously) Your whole grade is based on exams, which are harder than any physics or engineering exams at this level. you must be involved outside of classroom and dedicate time on all days to come to his office hours/optional lectures. Its almost right of passage to take Dan for 32 or 33 at Sierra.
Inspiring teacher, if you love math. Best for those who have mastered prerequisites and who want deeper, more thorough coverage. His math is efficient, precise, and often elegant. His tests are challenging because he tests for complete understanding of the concepts, beyond mere memorization and completion of HW, though that is essential, too.
Never under any circumstances take any math class with him. Exams are way too difficult, quizzes as well. Neither the homework nor the problems in the book do much to prepare you. You have to work that much harder in his class, yet not only get a lower grade compared to in another math instructor's class, but take a hit in your GPA.
While Balaguy shines as a wonderful professer with a deep and profound love for Mathematics, many students fail his classes (This may be because it's calc 2 and not his fault entirely). Balaguy is an amazing professor.
Calc 2 is the hardest subject with the Dan giving the hardest test. Semester started with 55 people in both of of his classes combined and were expecting only bout 8 or so people to pass. Still one of the best teachers I've ever had. Absolute sweetheart who wants you to learn and be excited about it. Just prepare to spend 250+ your semester studyin
Took Dan's Calc 1 class. After the first test I dropped the class and changed my major from engineering to history. Dan's class was not only fun, but he was a fantastic teacher and great to talk to. I just was not cut out for engineering, and I am thankful that I took his class, because his class showed me that. One of the best professors I've had.
DO NOT take his classes unless you are majoring in a hard science, or doing a pure math major. That's where all the 5s come from. For his calc classes you need to study AT LEAST 20-30 hours before every exam. Extremely hard tests, doing homework isn't enough, all test problems go way farther in the concepts. Expect to fail. 3/4 of my class dropped
Calc isn't supposed to be an easy class but Dan teaches the big picture. It's hard for some students to get used to his teaching pace but I would never take any other calc professor. He truly knows what he's talking about and tries to teach you so that you know it intuitively instead of a step by step process. Study exactly what he tells you to.
Dan is a really sweet guy and very available outside class. With that being said, Calc II with him is the hardest class I've ever taken. I think if you can make it through his class, you're well-prepared for moving forward in math (so I would recommend him if you're an engineering or math major). I had a 4.0 before taking this class for reference.
Professor Balaguy is very passionate about math, and even though the virus shook things up, he worked very hard to make sure that we learned the material and made the necessary accommodations for us to succeed. Just make sure that when you take a class with him you allocate enough time to properly study.
Even if your work is valid and the answer is correct, he still deducts points on exams if your work doesn't match his expectations. His lecture videos are useless as he blows through example problems by taking shortcuts but expects us to know how to get the answer the long way. Avoid at all costs.
He's a good teacher, but PAY ATTENTION LOL!!! He moves very fast so take your notes quickly and ask questions later. For someone who's a fast learner he's perfect, but if you need a slower paced teacher, look else where
I don't know where to start! I have graduated with a Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering, but I had to take Calc 1 again for credit. This professor have no idea how to teach! He keeps skipping steps assuming everyone understands them and he REALLY likes to make his quizzes/exams hard. He makes many mistakes with his lectures as well!
Exams are way harder than homework and quizzes. No extra credit at all. He docks points if you don't solve a problem the way HE wants you to, EVEN IF IT IS MATHEMATICALLY CORRECT! He doesn't actually teach, he just posts "lecture" videos of him quickly blazing through problems expecting us to understand how he solves them. Avoid at all costs.
AVOID THIS GUY! He does not teach at all. His exams and quizzes are way harder than any of the homework. If you have to take Calc 2, do not take this guy with a full load. You have to spend roughly 40+ hours a week doing the homework and preparing for the exams because he does not teach.
Dan is really a nice and kind prof. He does want you to succeed, but he has very high expectations. Expect to study for 35+ hours on test week. His exams are not unpassable, but they are hard. This is Calc 2 ladies and gentlemen, so be prepared for some work. I'd try to take a lighter course load to accommodate for the amount of work.
Despite being converted to online, Dan does almost nothing to make the class easier. Lectures are short videos of him partially solving problems and skipping many steps (and making mistakes). He assumes you should know how to solve these problems and it's especially evident on exams that are 5 times harder than the homework.
Seems to be a really nice guy but he does not teach at all. Like others have said, he teaches thru 5 minute videos of him going through a problem. The only thing in the gradebook are tests and quizzes. However, judging by reviews of other calc 2 professors at sierra, he might be your best chance at passing.
Yes. Online math classes suck. Calc 2? Online? Good luck! Dan is a great guy. Really passionate about math but the way he set up calc 2 for Spring 2020, sheesh. 5 min clips covering topics that need hours worth of explaining. Shout-out to professor leonard to the rescue. Calc 2 is rough no doubt about. I'd prefer Dan over the other calc 2 teachers.
Seems like a nice guy, but he won't make the class easier for you. He expects way too much out of his students, even though he, himself, frequently makes mistakes. If you struggle with Calc, do NOT take this guy! He deliberately makes exams incredibly difficult and time consuming. I would probably take a chance at any other professor over this guy.
If you struggle with Calculus, Dan is not your guy. His lecture videos are 5 minutes long on average but are sometimes shorter and he skips steps. Be prepared to put in extra work. He wants you to be able to solve any problem he can come up with in his head. No curves, no extra credit. Over half of the class dropped. Avoid this guy.
Dan does not know how to teach online. He posts 5-minute lectures to explain new math concepts and applies them to problems in which he skips steps and sometimes leaves problems unfinished. His exams are much harder than the homework and quizzes. So be prepared to self-study for the majority of his class. This class will probably drop your GPA.
Dan only partially teaches. His extremely short lecture videos are just him skipping steps, making mistakes and then telling you to finish solving the problem that he barely started. His office hours are a waste of time because he never fully answers questions. He deliberately makes exams harder than the homework and offers no EC or grading curve.
He seems to give us extremely challenging problems on exams that aren't anything like what we've done from the book and/or are incredibly time consuming. Only take his class if you've gotten at least a B in Calc 1. For the final, he gave us only 3 hours to solve 8 problems, almost twice as many as any other exam we took. He sets you up to fail.
Very difficult exam problems, much more difficult than examples and hw. Does not grade hw- hard to know if you are doing the work correctly. Does not answer emails. Zoom meetings were busy and few questions answered. Grades 10 quizzes, 3 exams, and a final. Grading method inconsistent. Showed him a grading error and is unwilling to fix it.
You will fail unless Calculus is your daily routine. The final exam consisted of two parts, each about 8 questions long and we were given 3 hours to complete it. Half of his students across all his classes quit by November. No extra credit, no grading curve. He is also constantly late to office hours and assigns hw that isn't even on exams. AVOID!
I took Prof. Balaguy during for his online coarse and I hope his online teaching doesn't represent how he teaches in a classroom. His lectures consisted of a couple min. videos explaining a whole section. You have to do a lot of your own research and studying to learn any of the material. Tests and quizzes were much different/harder than lessons/hw
If you're thinking about taking this guy, don't. He WANTS the class to be incredibly difficult. His lectures are 2-3 minute videos of him coming up with a problem, partially solving it, and then telling us to finish solving it. Exams are nothing like the homework, and they make up 80% of the final grade. Homework isn't counted either.
Do not take his class, especially online. I tried to communicate with this professor through email several times and he continued to ignore my questions. I begged him to grade my first exam for months and he never ended up grading it before the final so I could study. Lectures are quick videos of little explanation and him assuming we can finish.
He's a great guy and teacher, doesn't really deserve all the hate he's getting here; it's a hard class. The grade depends on your exam scores, but there are some quizzes to cushion. He is helpful and his lectures make sense, but you'll have to do all the homework and watch youtube videos too if you want a good grade. He's reasonable.
He's a nice guy, but he ignores a lot of questions and emails. I'd recommend taking a light load if you're taking Dan's class. He refuses to acknowledge grading errors and his lecture videos are completely unhelpful. He gives out a lot of homework but doesn't grade it, and almost none of it helps on the exams. Get ready for a lot of self-studying.
Only 5 questions on the midterm. Most failed. He doesn't explain material, says he'll leave it up to the students to figure it out. Barely 20-25 of video on a 4cr. Goes over 1 example only. Leaving it to the students to figure it out. Advice to take math at another college. Don't say you weren't told about how bad the math stem program is.
This is the type of professor that you lie about and recommend to the people that you do not like. This professor is so bad. It's a pandemic and so much more difficult for students because of this professor.
I can't believe people reviewed based on kindness and not quality. This professor is kind to barely explain in his videos, teaching the minimum, to select quizzes and exam questions not covered, for students figure it out for themselves. His assistant is kind to not be helpful. Those who wrote nice things are either his assistants or Pollyanna.
Unless you are a savant and/or want to spend all of your time doing Calculus, Balaguy is not the professor for you. Grading is extremely tough, the exam questions provided are ones much more difficult than the homework or lectures. The assigned tutor helps, but if you have to work for a living, get ready to dump it for this class.
Dan is very reluctant to teach and help students pass. Lectures are 2-3 minute videos of him partially solving problems, telling you to finish them, and not giving the answers. Exam questions are 10x more difficult than the homework, and he has no EC or grade curves. His office hours are garbage. If you struggle with Calculus, Dan is NOT your man.
I took him in person before the pandemic and also during the transition semester, and just want to assure everyone that he's more demanding in person. He has a cult following at Sierra, formed from outliers who enjoy abuse. He seemed to care more about appearing superior to students than imparting methods. Wait a semester if he's the only option.
Dan has no motivation to actually teach. He makes his exams 10x harder than the homework and quizzes and is very restrictive in offering partial credit. Half of our class dropped by the end of the semester, and only 7 of the remaining students passed. I'd enroll somewhere else to take Calc 2 since he's the only one at Sierra who teaches it.
This prof was never available through email, gave lectures through 8+ pre recorded youtube videos per week, as well as unnecessarily confusing and difficult quizzes every week that went beyond the realm of "helpful" and crossed over to being overly confusing in ways that took away from the point of the actual material that was meant to be learned.
I understand calc 2 is hard. Balaguy feels like hes flexing on his students how good he is at math half the time with his insane introductory problems. He is not a teacher. He just shows you how hard he can make your problems on exams and you have to actually learn the material from youtube. Wish he wasn't a way of passage.
There is no assigned homework for this class, so that means it is up to you to study at your own time. The lectures are fast paced but packed with information. The quizzes and exams only cover what was learned in class. Outside of class studying is a must of you want to be successful in this course. Definitely take the class with Dan. 10/10-IGN
The class was incredibly difficult due to overly difficult tests without good lectures and reasonable explanations. The solutions on the test often span a whole page with 6 questions and each page being completely filled, the solutions aren't in any way clean leading to very difficult time struggles (2 hours). Also makes grading mistake frequently.
Lectures don't show him explaining concepts but instead his superiority. Test are far more difficult than anything he would touch in lectures. Never available for contact emails wouldn't get answered for months. Incredibly harsh grader often times making mistakes in the grading. Solutions on the tests are messy and ugly showing no finesse of math.
Prof. Balaguy doesn't teach. He genuinely will skip 3 steps and assumes you know what's going on. He also writes and talks incredibly fast so you don't have time to comprehend what he's saying. I wouldn't take his course unless you have lots of time to study and don't mind spending your time at the math lab
Easily one of the worst teachers I've ever had. Quizzes were often unavailable with no explanation, close to zero communication, lectures were bad, and every single person I talked to dropped the class.
The class was very difficult at the beginning due to the fast pace and no review but, a trick to making class doable is to ask questions constantly, he will gladly stop what he is doing and explain or prove something again, even basic algebra. he likes jokes and whatnot so feel free to butt in he will laugh. make time for office hours.
Professor Balaguy is a great dude if you talk to him like a normal person but in the classroom his brain goes a mile a minute. His lectures are so fast paced that its difficult to keep up. He skips steps a lot of the time and will go over what he skipped only if you ask. You cant always ask questions because he will have already moved on.
Assigns homework that does almost nothing to prepare you for exams, which are harshly graded. I got roughly 75% of the steps right in one problem, and he didn't give me any partial credit. I dropped the class after the 2nd month. If you need to take this class for credit, you're better off taking it at a 4-year school.
Dan is an amazing teacher for anyone serious about math, he is incredibly knowledgeable. He goes very fast so you have to stop him to ask questions, but he is always happy to explain anything regardless of how simple. He typically provides past exams for studying and those will be your best resource, do them and ask questions.
Let's just say he's not the best at teaching since he does move very quickly so ask lots of questions he will answer all of them completely. You're going to have to put in a lot of outside time. The best advice is to study from the past quizzes and exams. I found he was a very fair grader on the assignments and let us drop some quizzes.
If you are not confident in your math skills, you may struggle. However, if you really enjoy math and feel you are confident in your abilities, he is amazing. Balaguy is one of the best teachers I've had at professors. He really knows the content and moves fast. He is easy to understand and respects his students. Do the homework and pay attention.
This Professor was horrible. The lectures go by so quickly and most of the stuff he mentions during lecture dont even apply to the homework. Hated this class. Made me hate math even more than I already did. The homework load is so overwhelming, it feels like you cant even catch up with all the stuff he assigns. DONT SKIP!
Dan is a wonderful individual and great lecturer! He has a strong command of mathematics, so his lectures are often rich with mathematical information. The only downside to some is how fast he lectures and the perceived difficulty of his exams. You can do well on his exams if you review old ones, trust me.
Class average on test was 35%, no curve given. Halfway through and he has only graded one assignment. Cancels class repeatedly. Teaches concepts that aren't in the textbook he says to use. Throws tricks on tests that he has not taught then says it's not his fault we were never taught them before. Very unfair tests and grading. Crazy fast lectures
Easily the most enjoyable, wholesome, and caring teacher ever, period. His lectures are entertaining, and I have never felt more confident with math than with him. When he is not teaching, he spends his hours at the math center helping students and is the definition of an amazing teacher. If you have the option to take his class, TAKE IT.
I love professor Balaguy. He is a very kind and patient person while also being very knowledgable on the topics he is teaching. A lot of people e do not like him and while I understand why it also seems like they don't try very hard or care very much either way. By the end of the class the class had shrunk from 30 to 7 and everyone had dropped.
This class was tough and fast but I think thats just how he teaches. He will answer your questions happily and is available at the Math Center for help. If you dont ask questions or at least try, you wont pass. He is fair but the class just has a lot to cover. I wont take him again though.
Ignore all the 4-5 star reviews on here. They're either posted by students who are 10x smarter at Calculus than the rest of their peers or the professor himself. The fact of the matter is that this guy grades harshly and makes his exams incredibly difficult. Over half of the class dropped. Do not trust any positive reviews about this guy.
Don't take his class if you aren't willing study math 24/7. Balaguy taught at an extremely fast pace and would cover all topics as if they were review meaning you already had to at least somewhat understand the concept in order to understand anything he is saying. You learn everything by doing the insane amount of homework. 17/30 students dropped.
DO NOT take this professor, He is a great person and you can tell he knows his stuff. But his exams are nothing like what is taught in class and they account for basically the entire grade. The first exam the class average was a 35% and we were given no curve, the entire class had to withdraw the class.
He is extremely knowledgeable, his lectures are extremely fast paced, and he expects you to know more than you probably do. However, he is very accessible outside of class, and you can ask him any question and he has no problem answering it. By far the hardest class I've taken. I only passed because of Professor Leonard on YT. Good luck.
I understand what people mean when they say that Mr. Balaguy teaches at a fast pace. Understand that he is simply teaching you the many calculus topics that are on the syllabus in the time given. He usually spends time reviewing material before an exam to help people prepare. If you want to pass, expect to do 2 hours of homework a day. sorry! =(
I had Dan for Calculus III and Differential Equations/Linear Algebra. Strong math fundamentals are extremely important, and worth practicing (e.g. being able to do PFD quickly on an exam). His overall format is fairly predictable by looking at past exams and just talking to him. If you spend time practicing your problem solving you will do well.
Balaguy is definitely a smart professor and genuinely wants the best from his students, but I can absolutely see where people found him too difficult. He lectures *very* fast, and it's usually difficult to keep up with what he's writing and talking about, but he will answer every question seriously, so just ask him what's going on if you're stumped
Mr. Balaguy was a cool person, but his teaching techniques suck. He rushed through the whole course with minimal coverage. He also doesn't update your grade until after the course is over and doesn't tell you what will be on the tests, so you have to study the whole enormous chapters.
I had this professor for pre-calc. It's a very fast paced course so it can get hard to keep up. He'll answer any questions you have even if it takes up class time and wouldn't care he wants you to understand. Only quizzes and exams are graded so he expects you to do homework because he can tell if you haven't. good professor just hard class
If you study the past exams and quizzes, you will do fine. Balaguy can answer any of your questions and is perfectly fine clearing any misunderstandings. You can drop one of his 3 tests, and only your highest quiz grades are counted. This was the best math course I have ever taken. Hoping to get him again for LinAlg/ODE next fall. Would recommend!
Took math 32 with dan. He is incredibly kind and caring, and will work tirelessly during and after/before/outside of class to answer any questions. If you do the previous exam questions that he posts, you will ace the tests. If you have a good math foundation, it's easy. Loved Dan. Plus, you get 10 free extra credit points for the math contest!
Balaguy is the best! I've never learned so much in such a short time. He lectures quickly and expects students to master the courses' prerequisites. The class is graded from 3-4 exams (1 drop) and your 10 best quiz scores. Do the homework and past exams! Dan's always available in the math center to review your work and invent new practice problems.
Balaguy is a great teacher. Fast pace. Expects you to understand prerequisites and current material.
Do not take this class. Writes worse than a 5 year old. Talks like a 5 year old. Can not explain a single thing. you will fail if you take his class. it is worth waiting another semester and taking it within a different teacher. I had a mental breakdown every single day because of this man, this man deserves to be fired.
Dan is really passionate for math; puts lots of effort to help students. Unfortunately, over these last 2 semesters I've slowly seen him make more mistakes in lectures, be a little more disorganized, and had multiple health issues come up. I truly wish the best for him but his age might be getting to him. Only take if you are passionate about math.
Horrible teacher. You will regret taking a class with man. Made me cry over work everyday. Was not at all helpful when I asked for help.
Balaguy teaches at a fast pace, but he's always available to clarify doubts. The exams are challenging, but doing the homework and past papers can help you ace them. For additional prep, I found unstuckstudy ai to be a super helpful study tool alongside other resources like Professor Leonard's videos.
Was a good professor. I really felt like I left that class prepared for Calculus II. Teaches material very accurately and concisely. I would recommend looking at past Quizzes and Exams he posts on Canvas.
Love Balaguy. Calculus 2 with him is almost a rite of passage at sierra. If you want to have razor sharp algebra skills and be able to do PFD and IBP in your head in a matter of seconds he is your guy. Very passionate and willing to slow down and answer any questions the class may have. You will have to do hours of homework to stay afloat though.
Extremely difficult, extremely caring. gives out phone number and is available even on late nights, he is very strict in his math and will not try to relate it or explain it in a relatable or irl application this makes the content difficult to visualize but easy to find a formula that works and go with that. ask questions and joke around with him.
Dan is an amazing professor who is extremely passionate about math. I took Dan for both Calc 3 and DE and these were the two of the hardest classes I have taken in my entire life. If you are not passionate about math or don't have a good foundation in algebra/geometry, be prepared to play catchup. That said, he genuinely wants to see you succeed.
Dan is a fine professor that clearly knows his stuff, but his classes cover a lot of material. He expects you to know everything you have ever learned in a math classroom and remember it perfectly forever. He is very approachable, but it can be difficult to understand what He is saying if you have never taken Him before.
Prof was always willing to pause lecturing and clarify questions. Precalc is a hefty course, so the fast pace was a struggle for me. In class, he made a lot of arithmetic errors and his handwriting is hard to read sometimes. For success, I recommend looking at past exams and attending tutoring. If you can pass his class you can pass any math class.
I feel that Dan failed to teach my class adequately. In week 9 he wrote our midterm grades on the board, of a class of 40 people, 20 had already dropped, 16 people failed 3 people passed with a C and one passed with a B. This class had a 90% failure rate. Take a different precalc professor if you want to keep your sanity.
Hands down the best math teacher I've ever had. I'm at CSUS now, otherwise I would have taken him for Calc 2 and 3. He has all the qualities that you think of when you think of "the best" teachers. Ask questions if you don't understand something! He'll go over it as many times as you need, until you get it!
You will fail. Class averages on every exam were lower 50%. Only one person got 100% on every single test. If you are not a Math major this teacher will ruin your semester and your gpa. Look for anyone but this teacher. Did not know my grade until it popped up on the transcript, he will NOT post your grade on Canvas throughout the whole semester!
He is very understanding and kind professor BUT his lectures are very fast and heavily loaded with advanced material. His expectations of you mastering your prerequisite knowledge is very high. 70% of the class would fail each test and only 1 or 2 students would get an A or B. If you pass this class you can achieve ANYTHING in life. Good Luck.
Best math teacher (best teacher - any subject) I've ever had. Took him for cac1 (math 30) and I'm taking him for calc2 (math 31) next semester. His exams are challenging. They're tough. But you will not find a better math teacher. PS...I'm not a natural math guy. I feel like it's harder for me than most. So he's not just for math geniuses.
Balaguy is the hardest professor I have ever taken and the fact that Math 33 is a 6 unit class doesn't help, BUT Balaguy is always willing to slow down, help, and clarify and questions any amount of times even going to the point of putting off the planned lectures to the next day until the questions stop. Balaguy is a great resources to learn.
Dan Balaguy is a wonderful person. He is clearly incredibly passionate not just about math, but about his students and about teaching. He is a tough grader and his fast lectures and messy hand writing can be a lot but you get used to it quick, and he will never leave you behind in lectures. He will ALWAYS stop to answer questions in or out of class
Professor Balaguy is probably the best math professor I've had. He doesn't play about his students and never leaves anyone behind. Although attendance is not mandatory, skipping his lectures will result in struggling on the tests. His exams were fairly difficult but if you pay attention in lectures you should be fine. Highly recommend him!
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